South Carolina has no statewide defensible-space clearance mandate like California. In Greenville County brush is usually cleared by burning yard debris, which is legal under Regulation 61-62.2 only after you notify the SC Forestry Commission, clear the area around the fire, and keep enough people and equipment to prevent it
Unlike wildfire-code states, South Carolina imposes no fixed defensible-space clearance distance around homes. Property owners clearing brush most often burn it, which triggers SC Code 48-35-10: before setting fire in or near woodlands, grasslands, or brush you must notify the SC Forestry Commission, clear the ground around the site, have adequate personnel and equipment on hand, and make sure the fire is under control before leaving. Land-clearing or right-of-way burns in non-residential areas must be at least 1,000 feet from roadways and off-site structures and burned only between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. under Regulation 61-62.2. Greenville County itself sets no yard-by-yard clearance rule; check any HOA covenants.
An escaped brush fire, or burning without required notification or precautions under SC Code 48-35-10, is unlawful and can make you liable for suppression costs and damages; DES may also assess air-quality penalties.
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See how Greenville County's brush clearance rules stack up against other locations.
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